Chapter 26 – Checkmate
The Raddus - Outer-Rim Territories
Leia Organa – POV
Leia was thrown from her feet as the Raddus (or whatever was left of it) came back into real space after less than two seconds in hyperspace. The stabilisers that would normally have allowed for a smooth transition from hyperspace were clearly offline. As a result, the ship had emerged with the feeling of smashing into an asteroid.
For the dozenth time today she felt her aged bones hit the durusteel floor of the command bridge with excessive force and she felt the breath whoosh out of her lungs as they were battered against her rib cage. It was only due to her instinctive force shield barrier that prevented her from breaking bones upon impact.
Based on the shouts and screams of pain she heard echo across the command deck. Not everyone had been as lucky as her.
The lights of the command centre continued to flicker on and off as the ship's electronics fluctuated and the room was thrust into complete darkness for a few moments before the lights returned. Only to fade again within a couple of seconds.
For a moment Leia simply lay there on the cold steel floor as the room moved between light and darkness. In that moment she found that oddly symbolic of the galaxy. She allowed herself to lie there as her thoughts and her body slowed to an almost complete stop.
She thought about how wonderful it would be to just lie there forever and let the galaxy move one without her. To forget the Resistance and the First Order. The Jedi and the Sith. The light and the darkness. To let it all, slip away and just be at peace. To finally have some semblance of contentment in a galaxy that had proven to be so cruel throughout her life.
But even as the thought entered Leia's mind she knew she could not obey it. She was old, her defiant spirit worn down and on her last legs of resilience. But she was not dead yet. And the galaxy still needed her and the Resistance to fight for it.
Cleary she was not alone in thinking that. Even as she channelled her strength into her limbs to rise from the ground. She felt a number of hands grabbing her and gently hauling her into a sitting up position. Even as they did her heard them frantically asking if she was okay. While others called for medical droids to the bridge. Though whether or not those droids were intended for her or for other wounded she did not know.
As her eyes came back into focus and the lights of the bridge finally stabilised, she was able to look around her.
The bridge was shrouded in smoke that continued to waft from the fired electrics and the now exposed wiring that snaked their way from tears and gashes in the ships command consoles and wall terminals. Already she could hear people coughing as they tried to turn away the black vapor.
The holo terminal displays were flickering in an out of existence as the blue images cracked and buzzed while they tried to project themselves through the damaged systems.
The room was full of groaning, crying or simply stunned Resistance personnel. Most were on their feet, nursing small bruises and trying to tend to those with more severe injuries.
The ones with worse injuries were either lying on the ground or they were sat up and leaning against the consoles and display terminals. Some were gritting their teeth against the pain. Others were more open with their situation and openly wailed.
She could see Ackbar was half leaning and half slumped against the central command station. His hand (fin) still within reach of the hyperdrive control that he had slammed to get them away from D'Qar. The Mon Cala Admiral was breathing deeply as his gill expanded and deflated as he seemed to collect himself.
But despite that he still did not move from his position across the control station. It seemed that he could not quite believe that he had managed to activate the hyperdrive. Or like Leia, he might be fighting the urge to simply stay where he was an ignore the chaos that was unfolding around him.
If that was the case, Leia saw it did not last long. Ackbar slowly moved to his feet. He waved off the command crew members who moved to help him and stood tall and proud on his own.
With a feeling of admiration, and an equal amount of personnel shame. Leia stood up as well. Though she allowed herself to lean on her comrades as they helped her to her feet and checked her for injuries.
After she assured them that she was alright she moved over to Ackbar, who had told his own well wishers to beat it (in words that were only slightly more polite). Seeing Leia make her way over to him had him standing to his usual stiff attention stance.
"General Organa, I have just ordered a full status update and system scan of the entire ship. I have also received confirmation that the comms are repaired and we can resume contact with the Ninka. Reports indicate that Admiral Holdo managed to follow us out of the D'Qar system without any issue." He reported in his typical military manner.
Leia wanted to smile despite the situation. Even in the middle of a damaged and smoking command centre with their cause in ruins. Ackbar still would not allow himself a second without seeing to his duties. He would not allow his people and soldiers to see him at anything other then his best. He was the unflinching shield that they could always count on to stand firm with them. That was why the Resistance needed him so badly, especially now.
She suddenly wondered if that was how the First Order soldiers and pilots saw Grand Admiral Kuvira.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and for a moment just sent him a grateful smile. She wanted to say so many things to him. How grateful she was for all he had done for her and the rebellion during their many years together. How she would not be able to keep fighting if not for him. Or how she had seldom seen a more loyal and steadfast companion. That it was a privilege to know him.
But time was off the essence and she needed to hope that all those things and more could be communicated through this one small smile.
"Thank you Admiral, what is the status of the Raddus?" She asked as it was the first question she could think to ask amid all the chaos of today.
Ackbar turned back to the consoles (that were still working) and quickly scanned the information. He then began to recite the reports to Leia even as new ones came flooding in from all over the ship.
"The damage to the ship's hull and frame is still being checked General Organa. But we have reports of multiple hull breaches. The main one from the direct impact stretches across 10% of the port hull. There are reports of multiple small breaches that radiate from the impact zone across the rest of the ship stretching back from the engines to the foredeck. The ray shields have been activated in the damaged compartments of the ship where they are still active. In the sections where they are not responding the blast doors have come down sealing the damaged area's off." Ackbar recited as he continued to study the reports.
"There has been extensive damage to the cargo holds as well as the fighter hanger. For all intents and purposes the starboard side hanger no longer exists as it was almost at the centre of the impact. Most of the remaining X-wings and A-wings we had stored there have been wiped out." He said as he moved his piscine eyes across the display to another report that had just been submitted
"We also have lost a few of the transports as their hanger was hit by the impact as well. Not as badly as the fighter hanger. But still the hanger has been sealed off due to the damage and while most transports are undamaged, many have been lost."
"Finally, we have multiple casualty reports coming in from all decks. Exact numbers will not be available for some time. But estimations indicate that over two hundred personnel and crew were killed in the blast. With roughly another three hundred nursing injuries ranging from minor to life threatening."
As he spoke a final report came in from the maintenance crews and the automatic damage control systems. As Ackbar read it, his aquatic skin lightened a few shades and his gills sagged as he signed out his frustration. Or was it resignation?
"We have final confirmation of the damage to the ship from the blast impact." He paused as if he was trying to summon up the courage to speak the words aloud. Or maybe it was a subconscious juvenile hope that if he did not speak the words allowed, they would not be true.
"The ship suffered total damage to the starboard side through the engineering, hanger, and aft sections. Basically General, the ship has been almost cleaved in two. Only the furthermost sections on the port side remain to connect the stern to the bow sections of the ship. Those areas are a confusion of emergency ray shields, containment blast doors and melted slag that used to be parts of the destroyed areas." Ackbar said grimly as he pulled up a green holographic projection of the Raddus.
Then he altered the image to show the damaged or destroyed section of the ship in red. It looked like a monolithic Titan or monster had taken a bite out of the durusteel Raddus. Leaving only a small sliver of intact hull and innards to keep the ship in one piece.
Even if only barely.
Leia looked at the image and quickly she understood the situation. The Raddus was lost. Even if they were not at war and did not have a ruthless enemy chasing them. The Raddus was not going anywhere with this amount of damage.
The fact that the ship had managed to remain in Hyperspace for the brief second that it did was nothing short of a miracle and a testament to the engineering skills of the Mon Cala. She could only assume that the sudden entrance to hyperspace had been activated before the blast could completely destroy the ship or break it in half.
But now they needed a new plan. The Raddus could not be repaired in space. It needed a fully supplied and state of the art dockyard facility. The only places that were capable of such a job were Kuat Drive yards, Sienar Fleet Systems and Coreillain Engineering. All of whom had very dubious connections to the First Order and could not be trusted.
There was Mon Cala itself. But the planet was on the other side of the Outer Rim territories and they could not keep their arrival secret.
But all of this was irrelevant as the Raddus could not make it to any of those places. The ship could no longer move in real space. Much less survive another hyperspace jump even to the next star system. The ship was dead in space. And if they did not move soon they would likely be joining it.
Ackbar finished as he turned away from the display to face Leia.
"In summation General. We have catastrophic damage to the Raddus and the ship is a lost cause. We have nearly half the crew dead or wounded and the rest are struggling to recover their comrades or repair the damage in some small way." The old Mon Calamari finished sombrely. He would not sugar coat anything to Leia. He knew she needed to hear it. Even if she deserved to hear better news.
Leia wanted to let out the largest sigh she had ever uttered. It was going to be the only way she could physically express her feelings in this moment. But as always her crew needed her to show strength, poise and determination in the midst of sheer adversity and remain un phased.
Besides she knew she should be grateful.
They had been in a situation that most would deem untenable.
They had been facing a fleet that so vastly outgunned their own that it was almost hilarious. They had lost their bombers. Their base. And finally, they had a series of planet shaking dreadnaught energy blasts heading right for them.
It would have been perfectly reasonable to believe they were all going to die a fiery death in that moment. But instead the Force had saved them. They were alive, as was the Ninka and the Resistance was still alive in them. From here they would go on to rebuild and return to the fight against the First Order and their darkness.
But in that moment she could not help but think of the thousands under her leadership who had died today. It was one of the worst defeats she had endured since the battle of Mako-Ta.
But she could not dwell on those how had died. She would mourn for them later. Right now, she needed to focus on the people she could save.
"Contact the Ninka and make arrangements for all the injured that can be moved to be transported to the Ninka. They will receive better treatment over there, while freeing up space for the critically injured and essential crews on the Raddus." She ordered before pausing. "Please ensure that Han and Chewbacca are moved on the Ninka as quickly as possible."
She already saw Ackbar open his mouth to refute this when she interrupted him. She knew that Ackbar had never cared much for Han and would not see why he should be given preferential treatment. But Leia knew that the First Order would still be hunting them.
If they found them with the Raddus immobile. Then Han and Chewie would need to get out of here on the Ninka. Firstly, because if the First Order (and Kylo Ren) got their hands on them. They would definitely face a long torture filled interrogation. Followed by a very public and very painful execution for the entire galaxy to watch as the heroes of the rebellion knelt before the First Order and died.
She also knew that if they were able to escape they could serve as a rallying force to bring others into the fight against the First Order. She knew that Han wanted nothing to do with the Resistance before Hosnian Prime. But she was confident that after all that had happened he would be eager to be back in the fight again.
After all, it had happened before with the Rebellion and Yavin.
Then again, they were both younger and far more easily compelled to the fight back then.
And the third reason she admitted was out of simple bias. She wanted to make sure that Han and Chewie had the best chance to survive this. Even if they survived and immediately fled to the Hutt pleasure worlds for the rest of their lives. She would prefer that then them being dead and/or tortured.
Once all this was explained to Ackbar he bent to her wishes and issued the orders.
Leia then turned her attention back to the monumental task of getting this Resistance back into action. The galaxy and the war raging across it would not wait for them. She also made a mental not to have her tracker bracelet sent to Holdo and Han on the Ninka.
Just in case.
Kuvira - POV
Captain Canady stood before Grand Admiral Kuvira in the private meeting room reserved for the senior officers on board the Reclaimer.
The room was empty except for the two commanders and the door was firmly shut with Kuvira's two personnel Praetorian guards standing just outside.
Captain Canady was currently staring directly into Kuvira's face. His blue eyes determinedly locked onto her emerald green ones. His face was stoic, and it was carefully worked to conceal any emotion or anything that might reveal what he was thinking or feeling.
It was modelled on the face of his Grand Admiral. Kuvira's expression was once again a mask of professionalism. She stood with her arms clasped behind her back and her feet apart in the at ease stance.
Canady by contrast stood to attention as he waited for the Grand Admiral to open the conversation that would determine the course of his life beyond this day.
Assuming of course that her plans involved his life seeing another day.
Because while his body projected calmness. His insides were clenching and re-clenching within him as he fought to keep his stress and worry concealed.
He was a military man. He had long ago accepted the fact that his life was probably going to end violently and in battle. To serve in the Imperial and later First Order navy while being in fear of this fact was just ludicrous. He had outgrown his fear of this long ago.
But that did not mean he had no fear at all. Military or not he was a mortal man and feared death as much as anyone. But what he feared even more was for his life to end before he died. To be removed from his command and from any role of importance. To be sentenced to a middling unimportant role of no real significance for the rest of his life.
To be discarded and expected to live out the remainder of his dreary life in quiet obscurity, forgotten and useless. He knew that he would rather end it himself with quiet dignity then to accept such a fate until age robbed him of what he had left.
That was what had him so fearful of what the Grand Admiral would do to him in this meeting. His life would be determined in this room.
He could not help but think it would be ironic. He had been about to eat a blaster bolt when he had received the call to join the First Order. If his life ended that way now. It would be enough to put an ironic smile on his face as he pulled the trigger.
For a long moment he simply waited at attention as Grand Admiral Kuvira stared at him in silence. Her eyes were piercing, her jaw as set and her stance spoke of nothing but grim determination. He sore that his heart was doing its best to shatter through his ribs and out of his chest.
Finally, the silence was broken. It happened so suddenly that he felt like he might have a seizure when the Grand Admiral began to speak.
"Captain Canady. I expect you understand why I have called you here." Kuvira asked simply. The words were clearly question and one that demanded an answer.
Canady swallowed momentarily and began. "I do Grand Admiral. You have called me here to answer for my choices during the recent battle of D'Qar. More specifically my choices when giving commands to my crew and the targets that were selected for my dreadnaughts auto-cannons." He replied simply and without hesitation.
He knew that Kuvira had no patience for those who tried to hide their mistakes from her. Especially when they were as obvious as his had been. He also knew that those who attempted to plead or flatter her to reduce their punishment was not well received.
He was determined not too make the same mistake. He would answer all the questions honestly and accept whatever came of them.
Kuvira did not move or react in any way to his statement until she spoke again. "Can you elaborate on the choices you made and their consequences Captain?" She enquired.
There was no mockery or baiting in her tone of voice. Unlike Hux and others, she felt no need to compound someone's failures by rubbing them into their faces. She simply wanted Canady to say the words himself to make sure he understood the full weight of his actions and what they had caused.
Canady understood this and did not seek to hide from his failure. "I had in that moment of the battle to end the war with the Resistance. Or at the very least to cripple the Resistance to the point when recovery would have been near impossible." He paused as he remembered the moment in question. "But in my over eagerness and my short-sightedness I ordered my dreadnaught to target the Resistance base instead of their main cruiser. That was my error, Grand Admiral." He finished with complete honesty as he saw it.
Kuvira was silent for a moment. She appeared to be lost in thought. But Canady knew better. Grand Admiral Kuvira was never lost in thought.
Soon she replied. "What was going through your mind that made your make such a grievous tactical mistake, Captain? Someone of your military background and years of experience does not make such a mistake easily." She asked with clear intent in her voice.
Canady was starting to become confused. He had expected to come into a cold condemnation for his actions. Swift and to the point. But now it seemed that Kuvira was actually giving him some kind of psychological therapy. Or was she trying to make him see something in his actions that she had seen?
Regardless he knew he had to respond and within good time. "I cannot recall my exact thinking during the moment Grand Admiral. All I can recall is that the moment seemed so simple. We had finally found the Resistance base after all these years. We had already destroyed the Republic Senate with a devastating and unbeatable attack. I felt that we could accomplish this same feat with the dreadnaught. That like Hosnian Prime we could win a flawless victory in one attack. The Resistance base began my only focus in that moment. I confess, I acted far too rashly.
Canady fell into silence as his head bowed and he allowed his words to confess his thoughts as he told the Grand Admiral the only truth he could. He was not sure if it would please or enrage her but that was a moot point right now.
Kuvira nodded as she finished listening. "That was my reading of the situation as well, Captain. However, you were not the only one to act rashly to the detriment of the First Order and the galaxy." She said bluntly
Canady looked up sharply in clear confusion. "I also failed the Order today. Like you I was hasty in my planning and in my execution. I never felt the need to clarify my battle plans with greater details. My use of the words 'Primary target'." She broke off as a note of disgust came into her voice and across her face.
For a moment Canady was worried. But then he realised the disgusted was directed at herself. After a second she shook off her self-recriminations and continued.
"In hindsight it was an incredible vague and unhelpful designation with no clear clarification. It would be suitable for a children's game. Such an oversight and poor use of command communication has no place in any military and least of all one as great as ours where the responsibilities are so high."
Kuvira closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Canady was not sure if she was seeking strength as she was struggling to keep on with her personal condemnations. Or if she was simply taking a moment to truly face her failure and to let the impact of it truly seep into her mind.
After a moment she seemed to come back to herself. "I also allowed my impetuousness and my desire for a swift and grandiose end to this conflict with the Resistance to blind me to my duties. I made mistakes and chose expedience over tactical reasoning and strategic planning."
She stared Canady full in the eyes but there was no force behind it this time. "I failed you as much as you failed me, Captain Canady. And for that I apologise. It is an error I have vowed never to repeat. And for that reason, I am able to forgive your error of judgement at D'Qar. I am guilty of the same folly. And I am many things. But I am not hypocrite. It is in fact the one attribute that I cannot stand in anyone." She said with complete sincerity.
Canady felt himself relax. He had been given a reprieve. Forgiven for his oversight because Kuvira would not allow herself to punish subordinate for a crime that she saw herself as guilty of. He felt his stomach settle and his heart rate begin to return to a normal flow.
Or at least it did until Kuvira looked back at him again. And this time her eyes were burning with intensity and promise.
"That being said." Her tone suddenly changed. It was not threatening but it definitely contained an undertone of menace. "The First Order has no use for commanders who cannot display initiative and intuition when called for. Nor does it benefit from officers that need step by step orders to complete their duties successfully." She growled out.
Canady nodded in agreement. It was the only thing he could think to do.
"The tactical decision you made over D'Qar would not have been acceptable from a junior Lieutenant. Given your rank and service record I hold you to a considerably higher standard. I will not issue a punishment or demotions for this mistake as I have committed one myself. But I will expect you to ensure that you rectify your mindset and avoid any such mistake in the future."
She took a step forward to enhance her point. And Canady fought the urge to take several steps back.
"We will not speak of this event again Captain, and you will return to the Fulminatrix to continue your duties. You may consider this your 2nd chance." She paused and her eyes narrowed to the point when her eyes looked like jade pinpricks, piercing his soul.
"I strongly recommend you remember that I am not a firm believer in 3rd chances. And mark my words, there will not be a 4th." She said with her cutting like kyber crystals. "Are we clear?"
Canady gulped audibly despite his best efforts to remain stoic in the face of the grim threat. Once again he was reminded why this young woman of less then thirty years of age was the Grand Admiral of the First Order.
"Yes, Grand Admiral. Abundantly so." He said as he just managed to keep the tremor out of his voice.
Kuvira nodded and suddenly the menace and implied threat vanished from her voice, her face and her body stance. The aura of predatory dangers that had seemingly enveloped her also vanished and her calm discipline was back in full force.
If it was not for the nervous cold sweat that ran down his neck. Canady would have wondered if he had imagined it. It had been a momentary glimpse of the ruthless pragmatism that had allowed Kuvira to order the deaths of billions on Hosnian Prime. And the same trait that could easily see him crushed beneath her boot, scrapped off and discarded if she felt it was in the best interests of the First Order.
It had all lasted for only a moment. But that was enough. "You are dismissed Captain Canady." Kuvira said professionally and Canady offered a salute and made every effort to leave as quickly as dignity would allow.
Kuvira stood alone in the conference room for a while as she contemplated the necessary actions she would need to take to ensure that the war continued smoothly. It was while she was doing this that her commlink began to go off.
She pulled the device out of her pocket and activated the hologram feature. The blue image of Captain Peavey appeared in front of her. "Grand Admiral Kuvira" Peavey recited respectfully as he waited to be acknowledged and thereby given permission to continue.
"Yes Captain, what is the status of the fleet?" Kuvira asked. Getting straight to the point at hand as always.
Peavey quickly got to the heart of the matter. "The fleet is ready to jump at your command Grand Admiral. The system that Hux developed before his retirement has managed to work out the location of the surviving Resistance fleet based on the calculations and their records trajectory. They are located in a system less then a parsec away. It is likely that the damage they sustained getting out of D'Qar made it impossible for them to go any further. We are in a position to cut them off in that system before they are able to summon reinforcements or to make what repairs they can an jump out of the system. We only await your word."
Kuvira nodded as she took all the information in. "Excellent Captain. Order the fleet to be prepared to jump to the coordinates in five minutes. The longer we wait the more time we give the Resistance to escape or to abandon ship and slip away into the galaxy. We have an opportunity crush them all in their nest. We must not miss this chance."
Peavey nodded. "Understood Grand Admiral. The orders will be relayed to the fleet instantly. I will begin the countdown to lightspeed and place all fighters and weapons platforms on standby."
Kuvira nodded in return. "I expected nothing less Captain. I will re-join you on the bridge shortly. Ensure that Captain Canady's shuttle reaches the Fulminatrix before the lightspeed jump takes effect. We need the entirety of the fleet to maximise all chance of success and the dreadnaughts power will always be useful to the First fleet." She ordered.
Peavey inclined in acknowledgement. "Yes, Grand Admiral. It will be done."
Kuvira paused for a moment and then raised her hand to forestall Peavey's actions. "On second thought Captain. Contact Canady and inform him that the Fulminatrix is to remain in the D'Qar system. He is to take up orbit around the perimeters of the debris field and the remains of the planetary base. He will remain their unless he is called to action from myself or the Supreme Leader." She rectified.
"Grand Admiral?" Peavey asked in a questioning tone. Cleary he was not sure about the reason for this reversal.
Kuvira obliged him after a second. "The destruction of the Resistance base was quick and efficient. The Resistance did not even have time to complete a full evacuation of the planet. It stands to reason that they did not have enough time to notify all their allies that D'Qar had fallen. Therefore, we will likely see some Resistance stragglers returning to D'Qar to regroup with their leaders. If we leave a force in orbit around the planet we can destroy all the Resistance forces that come to the planet. Even if they escape we can catalogue what ships and people come to the planet and have them blacklisted as Resistance agents."
Peavey nodded in understanding, but slowly which indicated he had another concern with this plan. "I see your point Grand Admiral. But the Fulminatrix is one of our most powerful ships. The fleet might need tat power. We can leave a single star destroyer here to guard the planet. It should be more than enough fire power to combat any stragglers." He said with certainty while keeping his objection respectful.
Kuvira nodded in agreement. "I am sure you are right captain. But we have no intel on what forces the Resistance might have available or what New Republic remnants might arrive. The Fulminatrix is a ship that could stand up to an entire fleet by itself. While a Resurgent class would probably be enough. With a dreadnaught it is almost a certainty. Besides the fleet will still have ten Resurgent class ships to take on the shattered remnants of the General Organa's fleet. That should more then suffice on both areas." She finished with finality in her tone.
Peavey nodded his understanding "I will send out the orders now Grand Admiral. Will you be returning to the bridge for the jump to lightspeed?"
Kuvira nodded. "I am heading there now. Please ensure that all the fleet is ready to jump my mark." With that she closed down the commlink and moved towards the door.
As he made her way to the bridge with her guards trailing behind her. He allowed herself to consider the irony of the fact that it was thanks to Hux that she was able to track the Resistance fleet through hyperspace.
For once his 'charge ahead with brute force strategy' had actually borne fruit.
The process was simple yet undeniably effective and brilliant.
The First Order had access to all the astronomical data from the archives of the Empire and the Republic before it. Since those days the many First Order spies and agents in the New Republic had catalogued additional data to expand on their immense records.
Reports from scouts, briefings from trading guides, the downloaded records of captured smugglers. Even the whispered ramblings of those explores that were most likely mad. All of it had been recorded with due diligence.
As a result. The sensors on the selected ships with the outfitted technology. Could pinpoint the last known location of the targets trajectory and then tracking control analysed it against the data that had been recorded on the sector in question.
As a result of mathematical calculations done by their central computers, that would take a standard human century to process. The number of potential destinations was systematically reduced from trillions, then thousands, to hundreds, to a few dozen and finally only one.
After some necessary cross checking and confirmations of the initial analysis. The final confirmed calculation was confirmed and uploaded to the navi computer. After all it would not do to have their ships jumping to a random system without checking their work.
In this way, through Hux's simply ideology of battering the problem until it gave way. They were able to track their enemies anywhere across the known galaxy. It would obviously not work if they went to a place that existed on no known star maps. It was also possible that the Resistance had locations they had never revealed to any of their sources.
But it was highly unlikely.
Kuvira wondered if she should thank Hux for this achievement. Maybe even a reduction in the terms of his banishment to Starkiller base.
It was a possibility. But she supposed that even a broken time piece was correct once a day. It did not change the fact that it was broken.
Still it was not her primary concern right now. She had a fleet to catch.
And this time, there would be no mistakes.
As she neared the bridge her personal commlink went off again. Pausing in her stride so as to appear dignified she activated the function.
"Captain Yago?" She said as she tried to keep the surprise out of her voice. A Grand Admiral must appear undaunted and unflinching in any and all circumstances at all times.
Captain Yago was the captain of the Supremacy. Quite possibly the most powerful warship to have ever existed. Though calling it a mere warship was almost an insult.
The Supremacy was the sole Mega-class Star Dreadnought in the First Order's service with a colossal wingspan of 60 kilometers. Its construction was undertaken on an unprecedented scale. The First Order had seen the flaw of fixed planetary capitals. And now so had the New Republic. Therefore, they had decided that the Supremacy would act as the First Order's capital location. The home of the Supreme Leader and the headquarters of the Ministries of War, Logistics, Intelligence, Diplomacy, Economics and all others.
It also acted not only as the First Order's mobile capital. But as a mobile battle station and construction yard. It was capable of harboring, building, and conducting ship repairs for the First Order Navy in its onboard hangar bays, two of which were large enough to house and repair Resurgent-class Star Destroyers. Additionally, it carried production lines, shipyards, army training grounds and even R&D labs. The Supremacy also acted as one of the premier research labs and factories in the First Order, possessing industrial capabilities rivalling the most productive worlds under the regime's control. Its armoured decks housed departments reserved specifically for the conception, research, and approval of new weapons and technology. It also housed well-stocked raw materials reserves, eight durasteel foundries, an asteroid mining complex for harvesting raw materials directly from asteroid fields, as well as state-of-the-art production lines.
Because of all this, naturally the post of Captain of the Supremacy was a position that carried significant weight and responsibility. It was also often assumed that a command from the Captain of the ship carried the authority of the Supreme Leader himself.
"Grand Admiral Kuvira. Apologies for this call maam but I must be brief. The Supreme Leader has ordered that the coordinates of the Resistance fleet be uploaded to the Supremacy's central computer. He intends for the Supremacy to join your fleet as it destroys the Resistance." Yago relayed with an impassive expression. His years in the Imperial Navy had trained him well.
Kuvira was not overly happy about this development as it threw a large number of new variables into her plans. But an order was an order and she would obey it.
"Understood Captain. I will have the coordinates sent immediately." She paused as she debated about asking the question she wanted to ask. Her military professionalism waring with her own burning curiosity.
Finally, she was persuaded that this was a question she needed to ask. For… military logistics.
"Will there be any additional forces of people of import onboard or accompanying the Supremacy and the Supreme Leader?" She asked as she tried to keep the tentative hope out of her voice.
Captain Yago was not surprised by the question. It was a reasonable thing to ask when a battle was about to begin. "Yes, Grand Admiral. Lord Ren will be accompanying the Supreme Leader.
Leia – POV
"General Organa. The fighter squadrons under Poe Dameron had made contact. They escaped from D'Qar with no further loss of life. They are in a remote system off the main hyper lanes and are asking for orders and the rendezvous coordinates." the comms officer stated as she looked up from her still slightly smoking comm station.
Leia felt a momentary stab of a headache as she heard Poe's name.
She turned away from the transparisteel window she had been looking out of as the steady stream of transports continued to form an orderly line between the Raddus and the Ninka. The transports were carrying all the people, materials and supplies that they could fit onto the smaller ship. It was going to be very crapped on the Ninka until they reached their planned destination. But that was preferable to being blown up on the derelict Raddus.
She turned her thoughts back to Poe.
She had planned to demote him from his position as Commander and have him listed simply as squadron leader.
He had proven to her that he still had far too much to learn about the realities of war and the responsibilities of command to be trusted with so many lives under his authority. Because of his recklessness. They had lost their entire bomber fleet and the vast majority of their fighter squadrons.
She did not blame Poe for the loses entirely. She knew that with their ambush discovered and the entire First Order fleet attacking that casualties were inevitable. But they could have fled the system with so many more of their people alive if Poe had not been so determined to have his personal vengeance against Kuvira and the First Order.
He had become obsessed in that moment of making the First Order and its Grand Admiral pay for what they had done to the Resistance and to the New Republic.
He did not care about the tactics or the realities of the battle or the needs of the larger war. He probably thought he was thinking of those in that exact moment. He probably convinced himself that he would be able to strike a critical blow for their side if he killed Kuvira. He would argue that they would not get a better opportunity to take her down and so that was worth the risk. Even in failure.
Poe might actually believe that. But Leia knew from experience that it was simply an excuse and a life to conceal the real truth. That in that moment Poe had wanted to kill. He wanted the blood of his enemies to flow to feel some measure of justice for the blood of their friends that had already been lost.
Poe could call it a necessary risk. One that would not even be discussed if he had pulled it off. But Leia saw it for what it was. It was rage.
And that was an attribute she could not allow in a commander for the Resistance at this time. She did not ask her people to feel nothing at all. But she did expect them to act with restraint and keep their emotions under control when they were in command.
Clearly Poe still needed to learn this lesson.
Until he did she should remove him from command.
Still with their situation as precarious as it was. She could not afford to upset the established chain of command and invite division to the ranks.
Poe would retain his command until the Resistance was established at the base on Crait. Once the Resistance was safe and able to take a breath to get things in order. Leia would demote him and give him a well-deserved slap across the face!
"Tell them to head for Crait and set begin to set up the base at the coordinates being sent to them now. The Ninka will join them once we are able to evacuate the Raddus personnel that we can to their ship. For now, tell them to maintain comm silence and head for Crait at once." She instructed the comm officer who nodded and began relaying the message.
After a few more minutes of frantic activity across the bridge and the entirety of the two ships. Another report came to her from Lieutenant Connix. "General, I was just informed that Captain Solo, Chewbacca and the First Order defector known as Finn have been transported to the Ninka. They are now secured in the medical bay." She said with a smile. Clearly she was happy to bring some good news on an already horrific day.
Leia breathed a sigh of relief. "Did they have any update on their conditions?" She asked.
Connix nodded with her smile fading a bit. "They stated that Captain Solo will be fine. His legs have received further treatment and he should be walking normally soon. Though they recommended he keep running to a minimum for a while."
"The former stromtrooper will pull through and should make a full recovery. However, he suffered internal bleeding and burns from the lightning he was hit with. Also, the battle caused a number of broken bones and a sever concussion. He is being kept under for the moment as the pain would be intense if he was conscious. But after some rest he should be fine."
"Chewbacca is the worst of them. He suffered less in terms of bodily injuries due to his size and strength. But that blade he took to the eye." She paused as she seemed to shiver at the thought. "He will not regain sight in that eye. It was completely destroyed by the blade. Thankfully the blade did not go deep enough to touch his brain or anything else vital. But they are worried that the wound might get infected as the flesh around the wound is slightly discoloured. They have given him antibiotics to treat for infection. But it is tricky with his Wookie biology and with the location of the wound. For now, his is stable and conscious. But they will need to keep track of the injury."
Leia nodded as she fought to keep back tears. The idea that the cheerful, loyal, affectionate and seemingly unstoppable Chewie was now half blind was a bitter pill to swallow.
She swallowed her grief and nodded her understanding. "Thank you Lieutenant. I suggest you get yourself to a transport now. The Ninka and her crew are going to need you for the long journey."
She held up her hand to forestall Connix's predictable comments that she was able to keep working on the Raddus. The girl was loyal almost to the point of turning it into a vice. "You have done all you can to help here Kaydel. Now you will be needed to help the Resistance survive." She spoke gently but the order in her soft words was clear.
Connix was silent for a while. Then she nodded her acceptance. With a salute she walked out of the bridge and began her journey to the hanger bays.
Leia turned her attention back to putting the shattered remnants of the Resistance forces back into order.
A short time later, her efforts were disrupted yet again.
"Proximity Alert!" Ackbar shouted in a way that was very unexpected from someone of his character. "Eleven in total. Ten signatures identical to those that attacked at D'Qar. The eleventh is…." He trailed off as his massive Mon Calamari eyes seemed to grow even larger. His mouth opened and closed as if he was trying to speak the words but could not.
Finally, he seemed to get a grip. "The Eleventh is massive, monolithic. It can only be the Supremacy!" He whispered/gurgled.
Leia flinched. Ackbar and her were two of the very select group of people on the Raddus who had heard the rumours of the titanic ship's existence. It had been revealed by intelligence brought to D'Qar just before the First Order had attacked. They had both hoped that the reports were fabricated or at best, exaggerated.
But like so many other prayers lately. This one had apparently gone unanswered.
"They found us." The sensor tech exclaimed just as they appeared.
Ten Resurgent class star destroyers suddenly appeared in the same wedge formation that had been used at D'Qar. One them, (the one at the centre of the formation) was very familiar.
But behind them came a ship that seemed to defy all logic. It was a ship that was built like a massive metal boomerang. It was at least 60 kilometres long and would made the Resistance fleet seem even more laughable when compared to the First Order's powerful force.
Leia did not have time to finish gaping at the ship. It was only because she had seen and remembered the likes of the Death Star that she was able to believe her eyes. Instead she turned her mind to the only thing she could think to do. The only think that might blunt the blow that the First Order was about to unleash on them.
She ran to the comm console and pushed the tech (not too gently) out of the way before she hailed the Ninka's bridge.
"Ninka! This is General Organa. I order you to jump into hyperspace now!" She yelled with all decorum absent as the true horror of the moment seeped into her.
"General, Leia we can…." Admrial Holdo began but Leia cut her off. Now was not the time for heroics or desperate last stands. This was a matter of the Resistance's survival.
"You can do anything Amilyn!" Leia yelled at her friend. "Nothing and no one can save the Raddus now. But the Resistance can still save the galaxy. But it needs to survive to do that! You must get your people and your ship to Crait. Meet up with Poe and use the tracker bracelet I sent with Han to find Luke. He is our only hope!"
Holdo was quiet for a second. Then she whispered feebly. "Leia, I.." She trailed off.
Leia nodded as her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.
"I know. May the Force be with you." She said as she allowed the familiar farewell to pass her lips. "Now GO!" She shouted one final time.
Holdo did not respond. And at that moment a shower of green energy bolts came lancing from the First Order fleet towards the smaller ship.
Leia held her breath as her heart stood still in her chest.
But before the deadly blasts could reach the ship. The Ninka shot forward and disappeared into hyperspace.
Leia sank back into her stolen seat at the comm station as the Ninka vanished. But the relief was short lived as the energy attacks that had been intended for the Ninka slammed into the already heavily damaged Raddus. The Raddus's prototype shields that had been so useful had been placed on reserve power as the rest of the ship needed the rest to function and perform the evacuation of the ship.
As a result, the shields were only at 10% power and only the first three blasts were blocked before the shields failed.
"General, Admiral. We have just lost our shields!" One of the bridge crew shouted before they were thrown from their feet as the next wave of attacks slammed directly into the Raddus's hull. The entire ship shook as the hull was blasted by the turbo laster blasts and fresh chunks of the ship were torn out as the First Order bombarded it.
The lights that had been so painstakingly reactivated over the last few hours went out as sparks flew from the system consoles and the deck rocked as the secondary hanger (that contained the remaining transports and fighters) took a direct hit that punched through the weakened hull armour and ignited the full tanks.
A massive column of flame burst out of the ship like a small volcano before the vacuum extinguished the flames and the fire suppressants sealed the burning hanger bay.
The ship continued to shake, and explosions were becoming more frequent and deeper within the tattered remains of the ship.
"This is it." Leia thought as she struggled to remain seated and tried to look dignified to the bitter end. She had no more strategies. No more allies to call on. No Jedi knights or masters at her back. No escape tunnels or pods to head towards. And it seemed that the Force was out of miracles to give her.
There was no escape or victory this time. She had no response to the enemy that continued to blast them as their ship began to come apart around them.
"I always knew I would probably die like this when I was with the rebellion. But I did not think it would happen at this point in my life. Or that everything we worked for would come crashing down like it has. But I don't regret my life or too many of the choices I made. I helped give the galaxy three decades of freedom from the Empire and its tyranny. And I know even if I die. That whatever it takes, Poe, Luke Rey and Han will help save the galaxy from the First Order. I only wish that my Ben was with them as they did it. But if they saved Vader. I still believe they can save him, even if I won't be there to see it."
Leia bowed her head and closed her eyes as she prepared to face oblivion.
But it did not come.
"Admiral they have stopped firing and are hailing us." The comms officer whispered in disbelieve as she climbed back to her console from the ground.
Leia was unable to believe what she had just heard. It simply did not make any sense.
The First Order had them at their mercy. They could destroy the Raddus with everyone on it at will with no risk to themselves. They could do what they had been trying to do for years. And what the Empire had tried to do before them.
Destroy Leia Organa, Admiral Ackbar and most of the Resistance leadership in one blow. Why would they stop attacking them and invite them to talk?
While Leia was still trying to get the universe to make sense. Ackbar nodded for the tech to activate the communication channel and accept the First Order's transmission. After a second Leia agreed with the decision. They could lose nothing by talking. And it might buy them a few more precious moments. Maybe enough time for that miracle to appear.
So, she positioned herself in front of the projector and waited.
The blue image buzzed and fizzled a few times as the tech valiantly tried to bypass the destroyed or damaged systems to create a clear picture. After a few more seconds, an image appeared.
"We meet again, General Organa." Grand Admiral Kuvira said with her typical emotionless efficiency.
Leia would have glared at her enemy. But she found she was too tired in this moment for such a show of defiance. In stead she simply stood her ground and faced her enemy with all the grace and bearing a princess could show in a situation like this.
"Yes, though I would have preferred our time apart to be longer, and our reunion in better circumstances." She replied with no show or anger towards her young foe.
Kuvira raised an eyebrow at her words. "A strange thing to wish for General. If we had continued our attack or targeted your hyperdrive core from the start. Then our time apart would have been very long indeed." She pointed out with complete finality.
Leia was predictably unfazed. "And you know that better than anyone else here Grand Admiral Kuvira. I doubt the gunners of the First Order stopped firing out of the kindness of their hearts. So why did you order them to cease the attack?" she asked pointedly.
Kuvira was silent for a moment. Then she replied. "I had you in a similar situation recently. I offered you a way to avoid certain death for you and your followers. I offered you the chance to honourably surrender. And you spat in my face, with that attack from that naïve child Poe Dameron. Now I would be completely justified in blowing you and your Resistance remnants to ash and the galaxy would be well rid of all of you." She said calmly but with clear malevolence in the coolness of her voice.
Leia was not impressed with Kuvira's reasoning. "I seem to recall you had your dreadnaught ready to destroy us before the talks ended." She said snidely.
Kuvira waved off her comment. "A simple precaution and clearly a necessary one."
Leia decided to move this along. "Speak openly Admiral. Why have you spared us?"
Kuvira hesitated as if considering whether or not to ignore the question. Then she squared her shoulders and looked Leia dead in the eye. "Because there is enough of me in you to respect." She said quietly
Leia and the rest of the Raddus bridge crew stared in confusion at that statement. But Kuvira did not seem interested in continuing the discussion into her reasons.
"Your lives are in my hands and I should by all rights take them. However, you have fought for your cause and you fought for it well. Despite our differences I respect and commend you for it. Therefore, I am willing to offer you a final chance to surrender. If you do I can guarantee that your lives will be spared. I can only promise that for the leaders as you will likely face a life sentence in a remote but comfortable prison for high priority prisoners. The officers and decorated soldiers will likely face the same. But your common soldiers, technicians and supporters will probably be released after a few years. On probation to a First Order world."
"It might not sound terribly appealing, but it is the best I can offer with the Supreme Leaders consent." She summarised unconcernedly
Leia was not fooled by the seemingly generous offer. "You don't want us to die as martyrs to the Resistance and the New Republic. You know that if we die then others will be inspired to rise up against your evil regime. You know that we are of better use to you as defeated humiliated prisoners. That is why you want us alive." Leia stated as a fact not a question.
Kuvira's lips tightened. "I was not aware you were so suicidal General. If you had simply put a blaster bolt to your head you could have spared those who followed you a pointless death." She said with thinly concealed sarcasm.
"I am prepared to die for my cause Kuvira just like you would be for yours. I will not live the rest of my life and yours and Snoke's trophy. If my death here and now inspires even one person across the galaxy to stand up for what is right against you. Then I will consider it a meaningful death." She said with utter conviction.
Kuvira was clearly growing impatient with this back and forth. But she controlled her emotions and set her face in stone. "And what of the people on your ship General? Are they so willing to die as well? After all the galaxy might remember the name of Leia Organa. But who will remember or even care about the nameless pilot, tech or security guard who died with her? I wonder if they are quite so willing to make such an unlauded sacrifice for people who will never know they existed."
"And more to the point, will they willingly allow you to condemn them to death, like Bantha's for the slaughter. I wonder if I allowed them a few hours to make their thoughts heard on your ship. What would their reaction be to your callousness?" She finished with victory clear in her tone.
Leia winced. Kuvira was right. While her followers were willing to fight and die for the cause of the Resistance. That sacrifice was always much easier if it was believed to have a purpose. If the sacrifice would mean something.
Leia had already been informed of attempted desertions and had to have the escape pods placed under guard. But even the guards had to be watched as a few small scuffles had broken out between those who wanted to fight and those who wanted to flee.
If Kuvira allowed the Raddus more time with her ultimatum hanging over them the crew would quickly devolve into a civil war. It would be the ultimate propaganda victory for the First Order. Them standing aside in their unassailable might while the Resistance tore each other apart like mad beasts. It would prove their point about them being the order the galaxy needed and the Resistance being anarchists.
Their sacrifice would mean nothing. In fact, it would be a joke.
Kuvira interrupted her thoughts. "I will make this offer one last time General. I am prepared to accept your surrender with honour. If you refuse I will allow your ship to fall into anarchy. Failing that I will imprison you on that ship until you all starve to death. I am sure the galaxy will be inspired by their Resistance heroes eating each other. Only then will I allow you and your ship the dignity of being destroyed by the weapons of the First Order's first fleet."
"Make your choice. Surrender with dignity or die in disgrace." Kuvira finished coldly in a tone that made it clear she would do all she threatened and more if she was refused.
Leia looked around at the bridge crew. But found they were all looking to her with no solution to be found in their eyes.
Slowly, very slowly. Leia turned back to face her younger rival. Then with a tongue that felt like it was made of dunium. She spoke the words that she never thought she would be forced to say.
"I surrender."
Authors Note
Wow, 10,000 words. That was an effort.
I would like to apologies to those who reviewed my last chapter. I would normally respond to your reviewed individually in my standard way. But I have been having some problems with my computer and I want to upload this chapter before anything happens. So, my thanks too:
TishaLiz
Sage-Faerie of The Marsh
AWriter159
ChaosStar44
Truth's Hierarch (Thank you for the longest review I have ever received. I really enjoyed reading it)
Guest
Sylphi
Thanks for your reviews. Hope to hear from you again.